Garment-lengthening hem



P 13, 1955 L. M. HOLSHOUSER 2,717,395

GARMENT-LENGTHENING HEM Filed Nov. 7, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

27 Louisa M.Holshouscr,

. W a 3 7 ATTORNEY United States Patent GARMENT-LENGTHENING HEM Louisa M. l-lolshouser Franlrlin, Tenn. Application November 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,181

2 Claims. ((12-243) This invention relates to a garment-lengthening hem and method.

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 237,109, filed July 17, 1951.

It is an old expedient to provide dresses or the like (especially childrens) with deep underturned hems, whereby the skirt portion thereof may be lengthened by a letting-out of the hem. However, this procedure leaves an unsightly crease or line, made by the'former hem edge or fold, which no amount of pressing will eradicate.

This invention contemplates so constructing the hem portions of skirts, coats, cuffs, etc., that after the hem is let out, the crease line will be concealed. This is done by turning a relatively deep hem to the outside of the garment (instead of to the inside of the garment as is usually done) thus requiring that the garment be made of reversible material. This hem may be made of a contrasting fabric, or of the same material. Also, the hem may be a continuation of the skirt, or the like, or be attached thereto as by a seam. Where the latter construction (in which the hem-forming portion is attached to the garment proper as by a seam) is employed, it is apparent that reversible fabric would not be required, since the right side of the fabric could be turned to face outwardly before the hem-carrying piece is sewed to the garment proper. Also in such construction the cover for the top edge of the hem obviously could be the lower portion of the garment proper instead of an attached trim piece like rufiie in Fig. 1. From these considerations it is seen that the invention comprises, in its essence, (l) turning a relatively deep hem to the outside of a garment, and (2) covering and/ or trimming the upper edge of the hem, so that it will be either concealed or ornamental initially, and when let out will not show a fade line between the previously exposed and previously unexposed portions of the hem.

This invention is particularly adaptable to childrens clothing since letting out half a relatively deep hem will leave sufficient hem for the garment to retain its style and good looks, and enable the average child to wear it much longer.

Objects of the invention It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a garment hem which can be let out without showing a crease line at the former hem edge.

It is another object to produce a let-out hem-construction which is esthetically pleasing in both its original and its let-out condition.

It is a further object to provide a hem having very few holding stitches, whereby it is extremely easy to let out.

It is a still further object to produce a let-out hem so constructed that the stitches removed in letting-out do not leave noticeable holes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

2,717,395 :Patented Sept 13, 1955 2 Detailed description In the drawings, in which like parts are designated-by like reference characters in the severalviews;

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a dress embodying one form of hem construction.

Fig.2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on'the line 22ofFig. 1. V

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, butshowin'g the hem in its let-down condition. V

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a plaited-cuif modification.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5"5'of Fig. 4. I A

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that ofFig. '5, but showing the cuif in its let-out or lengthened condition.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a further modification employing a longitudinally divisible trim strip.

With reference now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a dress 1 having a deep outwardly and upwardly turned hem 3, the upper portion of which is covered by a rufiie 5. As shown in Fig. 2, the ruffle 5 is fastened as by stitches 7 to the dress skirt 1 and overhangs the upper portion of the hem 3, where it is stitched to the skirt 1 as by stitches 9. In lengthening the hem 3, the stitches 9 are removed and the hem is dropped. It is then re-stitched by stitches 11 (Fig. 3). In dropping the top of the hem by the disstance D-1 the lower edge of the hem is dropped the distance D-2, as shown in the Fig. 3. The top of the hem in both positions remains concealed under the ruifie 5. The crease 13 remaining in the cloth as a result of the original folding at 13, is concealed by being on the inner I surface of the skirt 1, as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 shows a modification in which the invention is applied to a cult, generally designated as 21. This cuif may be formed with a plurality of pleats or tucks 23 and 24 formed therein. The upper two pleats are formed in the upper portion of the cuff material, while the lower two pleats or tucks 24 are formed in the upwardly and outwardly portion of the cuif hem 25. Fig. 5 shows the cuff in its original form, and Fig. 6 shows the culf in its lengthened or let-down form. 26 is the concealed crease formed by the original cuff-edge fold 26.

Fig. 7 shows a still-further modification in which a longitudinally divisible piece or pieces of trim 27 is attached at its upper edge to the skirt or cuif 28 proper, and its lower edge to the upturned portion 28' thereof. Widely spaced stitches 29 hold the two pieces of the divisible trim piece together "for easy removal in letting down the hem. Instead of the trim of Fig. 7, there may be used'eyelet rufile, machine or hand embroidery, rickrack, lace, applique, contrasting bias tape, ornamental braid, etc., formed either in one piece and designed for easy longitudinal division, or of two originally separate strips lightly joined together along their edges, either before or after being sewed along their outer edges to the skirt of cuif proper.

It should be noted that if the rufile 5 of Figs. 1-3 is made long enough and/or located low enough to cover the lower edge of the hem 3, said hem could be made in the conventional underturned form thus making possible the use of non-reversible fabrics. Also, the hem does not need to have the usual straight edge, but could be provided with a scalloped or other irregular edge.

In the species of Figs. 6 and 7, it will be apparent that a moderate amount of fading or other discoloration of the exposed fabric will not be noticeable, since it will be separated from the newly expose fabric by trim strips 23,

24 and 27.

While for purpose of illustration certain preferred forms and manners for practicing this invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that many changes can be made in these examples without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In garment construction, a fabric forming an extremity of a garment and having the marginal portion thereof folded back to the outside of said extremity to form a relatively deep hem the folded edge of which constitutes the edge of said extremity, a relatively Wide trim strip attached to the garment-proper portion of said fabric so as to overlie the free edge of said hem and cover a substantial portion of the area of said hem, and easily detachable means for attaching said free edge of said hem to said garment-proper portion of said fabric, whereby said hem can be let out by an amount approaching half the extent to which said trim strip overlies said free edge of said hem, thus concealing the initial and 4 final hem-stitch lines by said overlying trim strip and concealing the initial hem. fold line by the folded marginal portion of the final hem.

2. A hem according to claim 1 and m which said trim strip comprises an elongated piece of material fastened along only one of its edges to the garment proper and loosely overhanging and concealing said hem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 179,738 Smith July 11, 1876 2,021,711 Abrams Nov. 19, 1935 2,044,668 1 Cukor June 16, 1936 2,441,664 Hoagland May 18, 1948 2,526,156 Quale Oct. 17, 1950 2,570,777 Dessauer Oct. 9, 1951 

